New Bryodelphax species (Heterotardigrada: Echiniscidae) from Western Borneo (Sarawak), with new molecular data for the genus

Digital Gems > Biodiversity Library of Southeast Asia

Language

English

Creator

Gąsiorek, P.

Source Title

The Raffles Bulletin of Zoology

Publication date

2018/06/26

Publisher

Dept. of Zoology, National University of Singapore, Singapore

Page

371–381

Content Type

Journal Article

Object Type

Text

Terms of Use

Open Access

Access Status

Open

Repository

NUS Libraries

Start File Page

371

End File Page

381

Volume

66

Issue

2

Call Number

QL319 NMB

Keyword

biodiversity
Bryodelphax arenosus sp. nov.
morphology
phylogeny
Sunda Archipelago
tropics

Abstract

Bornean fauna belongs to the most speciose on the world, however many animal groups remain largely or completely unstudied in this region. Microscopic water bears (Tardigrada) are a good example of such group. Members of the genus Bryodelphax Thulin, 1928 are the smallest land heterotardigrades. The new species found in a moss sample, Bryodelphax arenosus sp. nov., is among the tiniest representatives of this genus, with mature females not exceeding 100 μm in body length. It differs from other congeners by having contrasting ornamentation of some elements of the dorsal armature formed by densely arranged intra-cuticular pillars, deep faceting of the scapular plate, and minute claws. Additional 18S and 28S rRNA sequences for the new taxon and recently described B. instabilis Gąsiorek & Degma, 2018 unequivocally support earlier heterotardigrade phylogeny reconstructions, with Bryodelphax being not included in the Echiniscus-line [((Echiniscus + Diploechiniscus), Testechiniscus), Hypechiniscus]. The phyletic position of Bryodelphax is discussed in the light of present data

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